Heat dissipation device and clip thereof

ABSTRACT

An exemplary clip is adapted for fixing a heat sink to a heat generating component. The clip includes a body, a first engaging member, an operating member and a second engaging member. The body is adapted for pressing the heat sink. The first engaging member is formed at one end of the body. The operating member pivotally connects to another end of the body. The second engaging member pivotally engages with the operating member and is capable of moving towards or away from the body during rotation of the operating member.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to heat dissipation devices and, more particularly, to a heat dissipation device with a clip which assembles the heat dissipation device to an electronic device easily and safely.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, a heat dissipation device is provided to cool an electronic component of an electronic device. The heat dissipation device typically includes a heat sink attached to an outer surface of the electronic component, and a clip fastening the heat sink to the electronic device tightly.

The clip includes a body spanning over and pressing the heat sink, and two clasps integrally formed at opposite ends of the body. When the heat sink is disposed onto the electronic device, one clasp engages with a hook of the electronic device firstly; then the other clasp is pushed downwardly by a tool until the other clasp is engaged with another hook of the electronic device. Thus, the heat sink is mounted on the electronic device. However, there are usually a plurality of electronic components arranged in the electronic device, and a space between adjacent electronic components is narrow. Therefore, operating the tool is inconvenient. Further, the tool and the clasp of the clip are prone to scrape the surrounding electronic components.

What is needed, therefore, is a heat dissipation device having a clip to assemble the heat dissipation device to an electronic device easily and safely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric, assembled view showing a heat dissipation device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure in use.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but shown from another aspect.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an inverted view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, assembled view of a clip of the heat dissipation device shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a heat dissipation 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The heat dissipation 100 thermally contacts an electronic component 211 of a printed circuit board (PCB) 200 to dissipate heat of the electronic component 211. A plurality of through holes (not labeled) are defined in the PCB around the electronic component 211.

The heat dissipation device 100 includes a heat sink 10, a clip 30 and a fan 50. A chassis 300 is secured on the PCB 200 and encloses the electronic component 211 therein. The heat sink 10 is arranged on the chassis 300 and contacts the electronic component 211. The clip 30 spans over the heat sink 10 and clasps the chassis 300 to secure the heat sink 10 on the PCB 200. The fan 50 is mounted on a top end of the heat sink 10.

The chassis 300 is generally a rectangular frame. Four legs 301 extend outwardly from four corners of the chassis 300. Each leg 301 defines a through hole (not labeled) corresponding to one through hole of the PCB 200. A plurality of clasps 305 are formed on two opposite sides of the chassis 300 for engaging with the clip 30. Screws 307 extend through the through holes of the legs 301 of the chassis 300 and engage in the through holes of the PCB 200 to secure the chassis 300 on the PCB 200.

The heat sink 10 is formed by extrusion of aluminum, and includes a solid, cubical heat absorbing portion 11, four elongated branches 13 extending outwardly from four upright edges of the heat absorbing portion 11, and a plurality of fins 15. The heat absorbing portion 11 thermally contacts the electronic component 211 when the heat sink 10 is mounted on the PCB 200. A top end of the heat absorbing portion 11 defines two parallel and spaced grooves 113 to receive the clip 30. A height of each branch 13 is equal to that of the heat absorbing portion 11. Top ends and bottom ends of the branches 13 are coplanar with a top surface and a bottom surface of the heat absorbing portion 11, respectively. The outmost end of each branch 13 forms an elongated groove 133 extending along a longitudinal direction. Angles between each two adjoining two branches 13 are equal. The fins 15 extend outwardly from the heat absorbing portion 11 and the branches 13. The branches 13 divide the fins 15 into four equal parts. The fins 15 of each part are spaced and parallel to each other. The fins 15 of any two opposite parts are parallel to each other. The fins 15 of two adjoining parts are perpendicular to each other. Top portions of some of the fins 15 which are aligned with the grooves 113 of the heat absorbing portion 11 are cut away, to avoid such fins 15 interfering with the clip 30.

Referring also to FIGS. 4-6, the clip 30 is made of a metallic sheet or a plastic sheet. The clip 30 includes a body 31, a first engaging member 33, a second engaging member 35 and an operating member 37. The first and second engaging members 33, are located at opposite ends of the body 31. The operating member 37 pivotally engages with the second engaging member 35 and the body 31.

The body 31 has a generally V-shaped configuration, and includes two spaced, parallel, generally V-shaped arms 312, a first connecting plate 313 and a second connecting plate 314. The first and second connecting plates 313, 314 are rectangular, are located at a top side of the body 31, and are much shorter than the arms 312. The first and second connecting plates 313, 314 connect opposite ends of the two arms 312, respectively. Therefore, an opening 311 is defined between middle portions of the arms 312. A slit 3141 is defined in a central portion of the second connecting plate 314, for engagingly receiving the second engaging member 35. A first baffling portion 315 and a second baffling portion 316 extend downwardly from front and rear edges of the second connecting plate 314. The second engaging member 35 is located between, and perpendicular to, the first baffling portion 315 and the second baffling portion 316. Two elongated mounting plates 317 extend upwardly from opposite lateral edges of the second connecting plate 314, respectively, to pivotally engage with the operating member 37. A central portion of the mounting plate 317 defines a through hole 3171 therein.

The first engaging member 33 is a rectangular sheet, and extends downwardly from an outer end of the first connecting plate 313. A top portion of the first engaging member 33 is smaller than a bottom portion of the first engaging member 33. A hole 331 is defined in the bottom portion of the first engaging member 33, for engagingly receiving one of the clasps 305 of the chassis 300.

The second engaging member 35 includes a top portion 353 and a bottom portion 351. The bottom portion 351 is elongated and defines a rectangular through hole 3513 therein. A width of the bottom portion 351 is larger than that of the slit 3141 of the second connecting plate 314. The top portion 353 extends upwardly from a right side of a top end of the bottom portion 351. The top portion 353 is narrower than the slit 3141 of the second connecting plate 314. A through hole 3531 is defined at a middle of the top portion 353.

The operating member 37 includes a cam-shaped connecting portion 370, and a handle 374 extending from an end of the connecting portion 370. A slot 371 extends inwards from the connecting portion 370 to a middle of the handle 374 along a longitudinal direction of the operating member 37, to receive the top portion 353 of the second engaging member 35 therein. Two shafts 373 extend outwardly from a bottom end of two lateral sides of the connecting portion 370, corresponding to the through holes 3171 of the mounting plates 317 of the body 31. Two through holes 375 are defined at a top end of the lateral sides of the connecting portion 370.

When the clip 30 is assembled, the connecting portion 370 of the operating member 37 is sandwiched between the mounting plates 317 of the body 31, with the shafts 373 respectively engaging in the through holes 3171 of the mounting plates 317. Thus, the operating member 37 is assembled to the body 31. The shafts 373 are rotatable relative to the mounting plates 317. The top portion 353 of the second engaging member 35 extends through the slit 3141 of the second connecting plate 314 of the body 31 and the slot 371 of the operating member 37 from bottom to top. A bolt 38 extends through one of the through holes 375, the through hole 3531 of the top portion 353 of the second engaging member 35, and the other through hole 375 of the operating member 37 in that order, to assemble the second engaging member 35 to the body 31. Thus, the clip 30 is assembled completely. The top portion 353 of the second engaging member 35 protrudes up beyond the operating member 37. A bore diameter of the through hole 3531 is larger than a diameter of the bolt 38. A width of each of the slot 371 and the slit 3141 is larger than a thickness of the top portion 353 of the second engaging member 35. Thus, the second engaging member 53 may be slidable along the bolt 38 when the top portion 353 is operated.

The fan 50 includes a frame 51, and an impeller 53 received in the frame 51. An aperture is defined in each corner of the frame 51, for assembling the fan 50 to the heat sink 10. When assembled, the fan 50 is arranged on the heat sink 10, such that the apertures are aligned with the elongated grooves 133 of the heat sink 10, respectively. Then bolts 55 are extended through the apertures to engage in the elongated grooves 133 and thereby fix the fan 50 on the heat sink 10.

When the heat dissipation 100 is assembled, the heat sink 10 is arranged on the chassis 300 and contacts the electronic component 211. The body 31 of the clip 30 spans over the heat sink 10, with the first and second connecting plates 313, 314 being located at an outside of the heat sink 10. The middle portions of the arms 312 of the body 31 are received in the grooves 113 of the heat absorbing portion 11 of the heat sink 10. The operating member 37 is raised to make the first engaging member 33 move to a corresponding clasp 305 of the chassis 300 until the clasp 305 enters the hole 331 of the first engaging member 33. Then, the operating member 37 is released and the top portion 353 of the second engaging member 35 is pressed to make the second engaging member 35 move downwardly and outwardly until the through hole 3513 of the bottom portion 351 is aligned with another corresponding clasp 305 of the chassis 300. Then, the top portion 353 is pushed to make the bottom portion 351 move horizontally towards the chassis 300 until the bottom portion 351 clasps the clasp 305. The operating member 37 is then rotated relative to the heat sink 10 to drive the second engaging member 35 to move upwardly until the operating member 37 is locked. In this state, a top end of the bottom portion 351 of the second engaging member 35 abuts against a bottom surface of the second connecting plate 314. Then, the fan 50 is mounted on the top end of the heat sink 10. Thus, the heat dissipation 100 is assembled to the electronic component 211 tightly.

In this embodiment, the top portion 353 of the second engaging member 35 is operated to make the bottom portion 353 of the second engaging member 35 clasp the clasp 305 or to disengage from the clasp 305. Therefore, a tool is not needed for assembly or disassembly of the heat dissipation device. Accordingly, the risk of scraping of other components (not shown) on the PCB 200 is reduced or even eliminated altogether.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A clip adapted for fixing a heat sink to a heat generating component, the clip comprising: a body adapted for pressing the heat sink; a first engaging member formed at one end of the body; an operating member pivotally connected to another end of the body; and a second engaging member pivotally engaging with the operating member and being capable of moving towards or away from the body during rotation of the operating member.
 2. The clip of claim 1, wherein the second engaging member comprises a top portion protruding up beyond the operating member and pivotally engaged with the operating member, and a bottom portion.
 3. The clip of claim 2, further comprising two spaced mounting plates extending upwardly from the second engaging member, the operating member comprising a connecting portion sandwiched between the two mounting plates and pivotally engaging with the mounting plates.
 4. The clip of claim 3, wherein the connecting portion of the operating member has a cam-shaped configuration and comprises two shafts formed at a bottom end of lateral sides thereof, and the shafts pivotally engage with the mounting plates, respectively.
 5. The clip of claim 4, further comprising a bolt, wherein a slot is defined at a middle of the connecting portion of the operating member, the top portion of the second engaging member extends through the slot, and the bolt extends through a top end of the connecting portion and the top portion of the second engaging member to assemble the second engaging member to the connecting portion.
 6. The clip of claim 3, wherein the operating member further comprises a handle extending from the connecting portion.
 7. The clip of claim 3, wherein the body comprises a connecting plate connecting the two mounting plates, the connecting plate defining a slit defined therein, the top portion of the second engaging member extending through the slit, and the bottom portion of the second engaging member located below the first connecting portion and being larger than the slit.
 8. The clip of claim 7, wherein the top portion of the second engaging member is smaller than the bottom portion of the second engaging member.
 9. The clip of claim 7, wherein two baffling portions extend downwardly from opposite sides of the connecting plate of the body and sandwich the bottom portion of the second engaging member therebetween.
 10. The clip of claim 1, wherein the body has a generally V-shaped configuration, and a slot is defined in a middle of the body along a long direction thereof.
 11. The clip of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second engaging members defines a through hole at a bottom end thereof.
 12. A heat dissipation device comprising: a heat sink adapted for thermally contacting a heat-generating component mounted on a printed circuit board; and a clip spanning over the heat sink and configured for engaging with the printed circuit board to mount the heat sink on the printed circuit board, the clip comprising: a body configured for pressing the heat sink; a first engaging member formed on one end of the body and adapted for engaging with the printed circuit board; an operating member pivotally engaging with another end of the body; and a second engaging member pivotally engaging with the operating member and comprising a top portion, the second engaging member being capable of moving towards the body to disengage from the printed circuit board or away from the body to engage with the printed circuit board during rotation of the operating member and operation of the top portion.
 13. The heat dissipation device of claim 12, wherein the top portion of the second engaging member is beyond the operating member and pivotally engages with the operating member.
 14. The heat dissipation device of claim 12 further comprising two spaced mounting plates extending upwardly from the second engaging member, the operating member comprising a connecting portion sandwiched between the two mounting plates and pivotally engaging with the mounting plates.
 15. The heat dissipation device of claim 14, wherein the connecting portion of the operating member has a cam-shaped configuration and comprises two shafts formed a bottom end of lateral sides thereof, the shafts pivotally engage with the mounting plates, respectively.
 16. The heat dissipation device of claim 15, wherein a slot is defined at a middle of the connecting portion of the operating member, the top portion of the second engaging member extends through the slot, the clip further comprising a bolt extending through a top end of the connecting portion and the top portion of the second engaging member to assemble the second engaging member to the connecting portion.
 17. The heat dissipation device of claim 14, wherein the body comprises a connecting plate connecting the two mounting plates, the connecting plate defining a slit defined therein, the top portion of the second engaging member extending through the slit, and the bottom portion of the second engaging member below the first connecting portion and larger than the slit.
 18. The heat dissipation device of claim 17, wherein the top portion of the second engaging member is smaller than the bottom portion.
 19. The heat dissipation device of claim 17, wherein two baffling portions extend downwardly from opposite sides of the body and sandwich the bottom portion of the second engaging member therebetween.
 20. The heat dissipation device of claim 12, wherein the body has a V-shaped configuration and a slot is defined a middle of the body along a length direction thereof. 